Kitty Hawk UH-1D

[406 Silverado]

Got another one on the bench and this time it's something that flies and Vietnam related. This is a commission build and since I haven't built a chopper in a bout 40 years it will be a learning experience for sure. Basically building her OOTB and she will sit on a base most likely with Marten matting.

As usual I am bouncing around and not really following the build sequence per the instructions lol. Test dry fitting shows it's a bit fiddly to get all parts to fit right, but I am sure when it's time to glue the parts it should all fit in place.

I went ahead and did the turbine motor with basic painting just in case I leave the side access panel open.

[Leon]

Nice start Rob! I'd like to do a chopper someday.😉

[John Everett]

I’ve been watching you work on this over on Facebook. As you know by now it’s a pretty dreadful kit. But at least we can say that it provides the serious modeler ample opportunity for improvement.

Are you doing it in green or civilian colors?

[406 Silverado]

Thanks Leon. Go for it buddy.

John in Nam colors. And yeah the fit of parts is not the greatest but it's better than some of the older kits out there. Some small parts could have been molded onto larger parts instead of tiny bits or PE that the carpet monster can snack on. Already lost one very small part that could have simply been molded onto the part it is to be glued too. Seems to be the trend though, get the parts count up.

[Steve Zuleski]

Good start Rob, what kit maker? I'm not a facebooker.

I love the Huey Hogs, worked on the UH1N's in Panama in the mid 80's. There use to be "Cobra" who sold all the after market upgrades for the XM-93 system (mini-guns), H60 upgrades, guns, interior, etc. I snagged what I could back then, shame they are gone, they are no longer on the web. Should be a great subject, the Nam.

Bookmarked! Cheers, Ski.


Correction, Cobra Company, just found em: www.lonestarmodels.com/store

[406 Silverado]

Ski it's from Kitty Hawk. I worked with all USMC helo's in the mid-late 80's, used to be a refueler.

[mustang1989]

I got this one on my birthday because my wife knows I love these things. I was a UH-1H crewchief for 8 years and have a great respect for these aircraft. I didn't know about the kit being all that bad though.

Will be in on this build.

[Steve Zuleski]

Mar 23, 2018 14:39:15 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Ski it's from Kitty Hawk. I worked with all USMC helo's in the mid-late 80's, used to be a refueler.

My bad, didn't recognize the maker. Looks like we were in when the money was gushing at us, cold war era.

Cheers, Ski.

[midnightprowler]

Watching this. I really want this kit. I have a list of aircraft kits I have a foot log, would trade all of em for this kit.

[wbill76]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it Rob, you'll beat it into submission I'm sure.

[flmlm]

Thanks Rob for your insight on this kit. I've got one in my stash as well looking forward to tackling it  in the near future.

Regards
Mike

[406 Silverado]

Haven't worked on the old gal so no new update. Trying to finish the exterior build of the M113 before I get back to the Huey.

[sturmbird]

Mar 23, 2018 11:02:29 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Thanks Leon. Go for it buddy.

John in Nam colors. And yeah the fit of parts is not the greatest but it's better than some of the older kits out there. Some small parts could have been molded onto larger parts instead of tiny bits or PE that the carpet monster can snack on. Already lost one very small part that could have simply been molded onto the part it is to be glued too. Seems to be the trend though, get the parts count up.

remember how badly the O.D. faded in country? I wanta say it's Vallejo, but maybe Mr. Color or True Color (I've looked at so much paint lately that I'm getting color blind). Anyway one of these guys sells a faded O.D. now! When the welfare check comes in tomorrow, I'm getting six bottles.

Kittyhawk said they eventually will do a 1/35th scale Huey similar to yours. I'm holding out for it! Lets hope they do a
UH-1b in the future. Most UH-1b's ended up being gunships, and we saw a ton of them in I-Corp.
gary

[406 Silverado]

Started some base color and light weathering on the interior.

[mustang1989]

I do like your update.................a lot. It closely resembles some of the more worn birds that I flew in. It's interesting how Kitty Hawk didn't include the cavities in the roof for the radios. Should've been three of 'em.  They did manage to include the auxiliary fuel cell quick connects right behind both seat stanchion tubes on the floor.

[Leon]

Looking good Rob!

[Steve Zuleski]

Looks good Rob.

[flmlm]

looks great!

[406 Silverado]

Thanks fellas.
Working on the seats today, slow progress as you have to be careful when cleaning the fragile pats, and adding the PE seat belts.Will post an update soon.

[406 Silverado]

Haven't had much time at the bench and spent about three days to finally get the seats done and installed lol.

[Leon]

Looking really good Rob!

[Steve Zuleski]

Good color tone on them seats.

[mustang1989]

That does look good Rob! Bringin' back a lot of memories............

[406 Silverado]

Thanks fellas. Trying to use what ref pics I can find for painting the inside. Still have the instrument panel to paint before I can glue the roof section in place, which will need some tweaking to get it in place.

[mustang1989]

Apr 23, 2018 8:09:41 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Thanks fellas. Trying to use what ref pics I can find for painting the inside. Still have the instrument panel to paint before I can glue the roof section in place, which will need some tweaking to get it in place.

I'll have to look but I might have a picture of the instrument panel from way back when

[mrversatile]

Nice progress, Rob. I can't wait to see what you do with the weathering.

[mustang1989]

Apr 23, 2018 8:09:41 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Thanks fellas. Trying to use what ref pics I can find for painting the inside. Still have the instrument panel to paint before I can glue the roof section in place, which will need some tweaking to get it in place.

For what it's worth..............and I may be a little late. Here's the photo of the IP that I took back in '91. It's not as full of a view as I remember and I took it so that I'd know where to mark all the limits on the "six pack" gauges (located just above the volt and main generator gauges"with when replacing them but it's a first hand view shot any how.

[mustang1989]

Again, for what it's worth, while I was going through my pictures last night trying to find the shot of the IP I ran across the following pics. They are all I have left of a multitude of pictures that I once had years ago. Several moves later I have only a handful remaining.

I took this shot while leaning out the L/H cargo door opening of my bird (tail #74-22390) on approach to an airfield while assigned to the 175CAC with 6th Calvary at Fort Hood. An interesting side note about the aircraft that was assigned to me and I was sitting in when I took this photo. It was tail # 74-22390 which was one of the two aircraft that was used at the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco. If you ever see any videos of that incident, it's the bird with the "toilet bowl" attached to the exhaust for dispersal of exhaust heat signature. The aircraft was taken over by the Feds during that event and she met a bad end. They flew too low during one of their passes by the compound and ran her right into some powerlines. No one was hurt but it destroyed the aircraft which had recently been rebuilt at CCAD in Corpus Christi. Man that was a good lookin' bird and as a young crewcheif I was happy to get the newest and freshest Huey in the fleet. I was madder'n hell at the whole incident.

Can't remember where this airfield or what tail # that aircraft was but always thought it was a cool pic:

Here's another shot that I took out in California during an NTC rotation in 1990:

[midnightprowler]

Looking great. Cool pics Joe.

[Leon]

Thanks for sharing the great pics Joe!